Understanding and Assessing the Concept of Knowledge Leakage London September 2005

Project Drivers Philosophy Changes Outsourcing of non-core activities Introduction of lean Lower tier companies to provide integrated solutions rather than mere components The movement of low-value adding activities to low cost base regions Cluster activities and co-ordinated value chains Knowledge leaks away from the origin Also staff retirement and other experience-loss mechanisms Need to understand long term effect of knowledge leakage – zero productivity?  

Project Drivers Companies need: To develop a perspective on their knowledge profile and knowledge flow Map and manage internal knowledge resources Understand and optimise knowledge leakage Maximising for efficient collaboration – but knowing the associated risks Minimising where risk is to high or knowledge is unnecessary Inadvertent leak detection SMEs are at high risk  

The Project Developing the concept of knowledge leakage and providing insights from a range of disciplines into the effect of knowledge leakage on UK productivity To achieve the aim the following objectives will be completed: To explore if companies appreciate the significance of knowledge leakage To categorise knowledge leakage as a function of firm and inter firm activities To develop an outline methodology for companies to assess their knowledge leakage holistically, to understand the risks and benefits associated with the leaks To provide an assessment as to the potential effect of knowledge leakage on productivity

The Project Major deliverables: A taxonomy of knowledge leakage; A web-based awareness, audit, and risk management tool for use within companies, thus enabling benchmarking both during and after this project; An assessment as to the potential effect of knowledge leakage on productivity for policy makers and the overarching Sandpit research programme.

Progress Changes in establishment Paul Chan Salford -> Northumbria Diane Mynors Brunel Raphie Kaplinsky Brighton Kathryn Walsh Loughborough  Collaboration agreement signed Institutional requirement before anything can progress  Job adverts Brunel Loughborough Closing date 19 September 2005 Interview date to be decided today Brighton – Andrew Grantham Northumbria – Paul Chan’s time specified in the proposal Possible researcher - construction water and waste

Connectivity and Foundations Image and the next generation Clusters EU project – drawing to a close Legal Readiness Interoperability Intellectual property Knowledge management Supply Chains Knowledge Leakage Value of Extended manufacturing enterprises New product development Improvement methodologies Technology Dialects Competitiveness Cost Engineering IT Readiness Resource-based views of firm Systems integration Ethics in Cultures EU project

Dissemination Opportunities Abstract / Journal of Materials Processing Technology By 30th September an abstract will have submitted to the knowledge section of the: 11th International Metalforming Conference 2006 Abstract / Potential J of Construction Innovation/Building Research and Infor’n By 30 November, abstract submitted to Construction in the 21st Century: Local and Global Challenges conference, Joint W55/W65 Working Symposium by CIB. Changing frontiers and competitiveness track. Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics (DRUID) Winter Conference January 2006; Summer 2006 Conference June 2006 The European Group for Organizational Studies The 22nd EGOS Colloquium 2006. Abstracts: 6 January 2006. 2006 IEEE International Engineering Management Conference - EM 2006 Abstract Submission Deadline: 1 March 2006 European Management Review

Summary / Position A slow start – administrative – frustration Initial work examining the position of ‘Knowledge Leakage’ – Addressing reviewers initial remarks – Preparing the way for the researchers Gathering views of colleagues academic and industrial – Concept of lost information into a major UK company Placing publication markers in advance to ensure publications – Driving the research through deadlines Ready to employ – a little worried